Simulation in Clinical Education – Background & Proposal
Purpose
To enhance clinical education capacity and quality through the strategic integration of simulation-based education (SBE) within Canadian physiotherapy (PT) programs, specifically in clinical education.
Background
- Clinical education capacity challenges are growing due to increased student enrollments, clinician burnout, and evolving healthcare demands.
- Simulation is already embedded in PT curricula for skills development but is underutilized as a formal replacement for clinical placement hours.
- The National Physiotherapy Advisory Group (NPAG), the Canadian Council of Physiotherapy University Programs (CCPUP), and other stakeholders acknowledge simulation's potential but lack national consensus on its role in clinical education.
Project Goals
- Build consensus on how simulation can complement and support PT clinical education in Canada.
- Develop a pan-Canadian framework and guidelines for simulation use in clinical education, including:
- Definitions, types of simulation, and their application.
- Quality assurance and assessment strategies.
- Recommendations for simulation hours as clinical placement equivalents.
- Engage physiotherapy regulators, educators, clinicians, and professional associations to ensure alignment and acceptance.
Proposed Activities & Deliverables
- Environmental Scan & Literature Review: Current use of simulation, best practices, and international benchmarks.
- Stakeholder Consultations: Engage CCPUP, regulators, clinicians, and students to gather perspectives and foster consensus.
- Framework Development: Draft a national simulation framework for clinical education.
- Validation & Dissemination: Circulate for feedback, refine, and promote adoption.
Job Summary:
Provide research support for faculty members in their teaching, research and laboratory activities. Work is performed independently, with the availability of direction and guidance from Research Staff or Manager.
Accountabilities:
- Adhering to established research methodology, gather and compile data for the research study or project.
- Modify and adapt research methods, techniques or procedures, based on deviations in experimental results.
- Record, classify, and summarize research data according to established procedures.
- Conduct structured participant interviews and focus groups.
- Carry out intermediate level statistical analyses.
- Contribute to the preparation of data for reports, journal articles, papers, etc.
- Conduct literature reviews and synthesize findings.
- Perform other related tasks as outlined by the researcher
Assets:
Knowledge of lime survey, MS Office Suite
Interest in or previous knowledge of simulation
Interest in or knowledge of the physiotherapy profession/ health professions at large
Additional Information:
The Research Assistants will work with a National Simulation Working Group and Advisory group to collect and analyze data. They will also work with Simulation Experts in the development of an operational tool kit that will support delivery of simulation activities in physiotherapy programs across Canada.
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